Euripides, Ion, ed. Gilbert Murray, 510

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Scene

← Previous Next →

Ἴων

πρόσπολοι γυναῖκες, αἳ τῶνδʼ ἀμφὶ κρηπῖδας δόμων
510

θυοδόκων φρούρημʼ ἔχουσαι δεσπότιν φυλάσσετε,

ἐκλέλοιπʼ ἤδη τὸν ἱερὸν τρίποδα καὶ χρηστήριον

Ξοῦθος, ἢ μίμνει κατʼ οἶκον ἱστορῶν ἀπαιδίαν;

Χορός

ἐν δόμοις ἔστʼ, ὦ ξένʼ· οὔπω δῶμʼ ὑπερβαίνει τόδε.

ὡς δʼ ἐπʼ ἐξόδοισιν ὄντος, τῶνδʼ ἀκούομεν πυλῶν
515

δοῦπον, ἐξιόντα τʼ ἤδη δεσπότην ὁρᾶν πάρα.

Ξοῦθος

ὦ τέκνον, χαῖρʼ· ἡ γὰρ ἀρχὴ τοῦ λόγου πρέπουσά μοι.

Ἴων

χαίρομεν· σὺ δʼ εὖ φρόνει γε, καὶ δύʼ ὄντʼ εὖ πράξομεν.

Ξοῦθος

δὸς χερὸς φίλημά μοι σῆς σώματός τʼ ἀμφιπτυχάς.

Ἴων

εὖ φρονεῖς μέν; ἤ σʼ ἔμηνε θεοῦ τις, ὦ ξένε, βλάβη;
520

Ξοῦθος

σωφρονῶ· τὰ φίλταθʼ εὑρὼν οὐ φυγεῖν ἐφίεμαι.

Ἴων

παῦε, μὴ ψαύσας τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ στέμματα ῥήξῃς χερί.

Ξοῦθος

ἅψομαι· κοὐ ῥυσιάζω, τἀμὰ δʼ εὑρίσκω φίλα.

Ἴων

οὐκ ἀπαλλάξῃ, πρὶν εἴσω τόξα πλευμόνων λαβεῖν;

Ξοῦθος

ὡς τί δὴ φεύγεις με; σαυτοῦ γνωρίσας τὰ φίλτατα —
525

Ἴων

οὐ φιλῶ φρενοῦν ἀμούσους καὶ μεμηνότας ξένους.

Ξοῦθος

κτεῖνε καὶ πίμπρη· πατρὸς γάρ, ἢν κτάνῃς, ἔσῃ φονεύς.

Ἴων

ποῦ δέ μοι πατὴρ σύ; ταῦτʼ οὖν οὐ γέλως κλύειν ἐμοῦ;

Ξοῦθος

οὔ· τρέχων ὁ μῦθος ἄν σοι τἀμὰ σημήνειεν ἄν.

Ἴων

καὶ τί μοι λέξεις;
530

Ξοῦθος

πατὴρ σός εἰμι καὶ σὺ παῖς ἐμός.

Ἴων

τίς λέγει τάδε;

Ξοῦθος

ὅς σʼ ἔθρεψεν ὄντα Λοξίας ἐμόν.

Ἴων

μαρτυρεῖς σαυτῷ.

Ξοῦθος

τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ γʼ ἐκμαθὼν χρηστήρια.

Ἴων

ἐσφάλης αἴνιγμʼ ἀκούσας.

Ξοῦθος

οὐκ ἄρʼ ὄρθʼ ἀκούομεν.

Ἴων

ὁ δὲ λόγος τίς ἐστι Φοίβου;

Ξοῦθος

τὸν συναντήσαντά μοι —

Ἴων

τίνα συνάντησιν;
535

Ξοῦθος

δόμων τῶνδʼ ἐξιόντι τοῦ θεοῦ

Ἴων

συμφορᾶς τίνος κυρῆσαι;

Ξοῦθος

παῖδʼ ἐμὸν πεφυκέναι.

Ἴων

σὸν γεγῶτʼ, ἢ δῶρον ἄλλως;

Ξοῦθος

δῶρον, ὄντα δʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ.

Ἴων

πρῶτα δῆτʼ ἐμοὶ ξυνάπτεις πόδα σόν;

Ξοῦθος

οὐκ ἄλλῳ, τέκνον.

Ἴων

ἡ τύχη πόθεν ποθʼ ἥκει;

Ξοῦθος

δύο μίαν θαυμάζομεν.

Ἴων

ἔα. τίνος δέ σοι πέφυκα μητρός;
540

Ξοῦθος

οὐκ ἔχω φράσαι.

Ἴων

οὐδὲ Φοῖβος εἶπε;

Ξοῦθος

τερφθεὶς τοῦτο, κεῖνʼ οὐκ ἠρόμην.

Ἴων

γῆς ἄρʼ ἐκπέφυκα μητρός.

Ξοῦθος

οὐ πέδον τίκτει τέκνα.

Ἴων

πῶς ἂν οὖν εἴην σός;

Ξοῦθος

οὐκ οἶδʼ, ἀναφέρω δʼ ἐς τὸν θεόν.

Ion. Euripides. ed. Gilbert Murray. Oxford. 1913.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Ἴων (Greek) (Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae, Vol. II. Murray, Gilbert, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913. (Reprinted 1921-1962))

Editions (3)

Ion, Greek text (M. A. Bayfield, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (The Greek text and dramatic structure of M. A. Bayfield's second edition of 1924 (first edition 1889), aligned by line to the Murray reference edition.)

No corresponding passage available

Ion, Greek text (A. W. Verrall, 1890) (OCR draft) Experimental (The Greek text and dramatic structure of A. W. Verrall's 1890 edition, aligned by line to the Murray reference edition.)

No corresponding passage available

Ion, Greek text (Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, 1926) (OCR draft) Experimental (Wilamowitz's 1926 Greek edition with its critical apparatus, aligned by line to the Murray reference edition.)

No corresponding passage available

Translations (4)

Ion Perseus (Euripides. The Plays of Euripides, Vol. I. Coleridge, Edward P., translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1906.) — 510 focus

Ion

Attendant maids, that watch and wait your mistress here at the steps of the temple fragrant with incense, say, hath Xuthus already left the holy tripod and the sanctuary, or doth he still abide within to ask yet further of his childlessness?
510

Chorus

He is still in the temple, sir, nor hath he passed this threshold yet.

But hark! I hear a footstep at the outlet of the door, and lo! thou mayst see my master this moment coming out.
515

Xuthus

All hail! my son; that word suits well as my first greeting to thee.

Ion

’Tis well with me; do but restrain thyself, and then both of us will be happy.

Xuthus

Give me thy hand to grasp, thy body to embrace.

Ion

Art thou in thy senses, sir, or hath some spiteful god reft thee of them?
520

Xuthus

I am in my senses, for I have found what I hold most dear, and am eager to show my love.

Ion

Cease! touch me not, nor tear these garlands of the god!

Xuthus

I will embrace thee, for I am not seizing what is not my own, but only finding my own that I love full well.

Ion

Hands off! or thou shalt feel an arrow pierce thy ribs.

Xuthus

Why dost thou shun me, now that thou findest in me thy nearest and dearest?
525

Ion

I am not fond of schooling boors and crazy strangers.

Xuthus

Kill me, burn me, if thou wilt; for, if thou dost, thou wilt be thy father’s murderer.

Ion

Thou my father, indeed i Oh! is not news like this enough to make me laugh?

Xuthus

Not so; my tale, as it proceeds, will prove to thee what I assert.

Ion

Pray, what hast thou to tell me?
530

Xuthus

That I am thy own father, and thou my very child.

Ion

Who says so?

Xuthus

Loxias, who gave thee nurture, though thou wert my son.

Ion

Thou art thy own witness.

Xuthus

Nay, I have learnt the answer of the god.

Ion

Thou art mistaken in the dark riddle thou hast heard.

Xuthus

It seems then I do not hear aright.

Ion

What said Phoebus?

Xuthus

That the man who met me—

Ion

When and where?
535

Xuthus

As I came forth from the god’s temple—

Ion

Well! what should happen to him?

Xuthus

Should be my own true son.

Ion

Thy own true son, or a gift from others?

Xuthus

A gift, but mine for all that.

Ion

Am I the first that thou didst meet?

Xuthus

I have met no other, my son.

Ion

Whence came this piece of luck?

Xuthus

To both of us alike it causes surprise.

Ion

Ah I but who was my mother?
540

Xuthus

I cannot tell.

Ion

Did not Phoebus tell thee that?

Xuthus

I was so pleased with this, I did not ask him that.

Ion

I must have sprung from mother earth.

Xuthus

The ground brings forth no children.

Ion

How can I be thine?

Xuthus

I know not; I refer it to the god.

Ion (OCR draft) Experimental (Ion. Robert Potter's English verse translation, first published in 1781–1783; text from the 1808 Oxford printing.)

No corresponding passage available

Ion, English translation (A. W. Verrall, 1890) (OCR draft) Experimental (A. W. Verrall's English verse translation, passage-aligned to the Murray reference edition.)

No corresponding passage available

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1852; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (Euripides. Deutsch in den Versmaßen der Urschrift. Volume 3, Heidelberg: C. F. Winter, 1852. Harvard OCR compared with an independent BSB copy. Native Donner verse citations, Murray reference cards, explicitly located notes and page facsimiles. Unresolved OCR, verse divisions, unlocated notes and printed errata are documented in the source review.) — 510 focus

Sagt, o Frauen, die vor dieses Hauses weihrauchduftenden
505

Festaltaren Wache haltend und den Herrn erwartend stehn,

Kam er schon vom heil'gen Dreifuß, vom Orakelsiz zurück,

Xuthos, oder weilt er innen, forscht, wonach sein Herz

Der Chor.

verlangt?

Noch im Tempel ist er, Fremdling, noch verließ er nicht das Haus.

Doch als ob er eben kame, horen wir des Tempels Thor
510

Knarren, und bereits herausgehn kannst du dort den Herrscher sehn.

Xuthos. Ion. Der Chor.

Xuthos.

Gluck, mein Sohn! Denn dieser Anfang meiner Rede ziemt mir wohl.

Jon.

Glück für mich: du sei besonnen, und wir fahren beide wohl.

Xuthos.

Deine Hand gib mir zu küssen, deinen Leib laß mich umfahn.

Jon.

Bist du, Freund, bei Sinnen, oder schlug mit Wahnsinn dich
515

Xuthos.

ein Gott?

Bin ich sinnlos, wenn ich lieben will das Liebste, das ich fand?

Jon.

Weg, damit du, mich berührend, nicht zerreißest Phobos'

Xuthos.

Kranz!

Ueb' ich hier doch nicht Gewaltraub; denn ich fand mein

Jon.

Liebstes ja.

Weichst du nicht, bis mein Geschoß sich tief in deine Lungen

Xuthos.

bohrt?

Was entfliehst du mir? Erkenne du dein Liebstes auch in mir!¹
520

Jon.

Thoren, wahnsinntrunkne Fremde, klug zu machen lieb' ich

Xuthos.

nicht.

Morde, brenne! Vaters Mörder wirst du, gibst du mir den

Jon.

Tod.

Aber wie wär'st du mir Vater? Lachen macht mich dieses

Xuthos.

Wort.

Und warum? Der Lauf der Rede wird dir kundthun, wer

Jon.

Du behauptest denn -?
525

Xuthos.

ich sei.

Dein Vater bin ich, und du bist mein Sohn.

Jon.

Wer verbürgt das?

Xuthos.

Der dich aufzog als den Meinen - Lorias.

Son.

Du bezeugst es dir allein.

Des Gottes Sprůche lehrten mich's.

Jon.

Dich beruckte wohl ein Räthsel.

Xuthos.

Hått' ich denn nicht recht gehört?

Jon.

Und das Wort des Phobos lautet -?

Wann begegnend?
530

Xuthos.

„Daß der mir Begegnende" -

„Wann heraus ich tråt' aus diesem Gotteshaus" -

Jon.

Welch ein Loos erfahren wurde?

Xuthos.

,,Xuthos' Sohn, des Königs, sei."

Jon.

Leiblich, oder als Geschenk nur?

Als Geschenk, und leiblich auch.

Mir zuerst also begegnen deine Schritte?

Und woher kam solche Fugung?

Keinem sonst.

Mir so råthselhaft, wie dir.

Gut! Doch welche Mutter hat mich dir geschenkt?
535

Xuthos.

Ich weiß es nicht.
535

Jon.

Sagte dir's nicht Phobos?

Xuthos.

Froh des Sohnes, fragt' ich dieses nicht.

Jon.

War' ich denn ein Sohn der Erde?

Xuthos.

Kinder zeugt niemals das Land.

Wie nun bin ich dein?

Ich weiß nicht, baue nur auf Phobos' Wort.

Jon.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Χορός ἐν δόμοις ἔστʼ, ὦ ξένʼ· οὔπω δῶμʼ ὑπερβαίνει τόδε. ὡς δʼ ἐπʼ ἐξόδοισιν ὄντος, τῶνδʼ ἀκούομεν πυλῶν 515 δοῦπον, ἐξιόντα τʼ ἤδη δεσπότην ὁρᾶν πάρα.

Ξοῦθος ὦ τέκνον, χαῖρʼ· ἡ γὰρ ἀρχὴ τοῦ λόγου πρέπουσά μοι.

Ἴων χαίρομεν· σὺ δʼ εὖ φρόνει γε, καὶ δύʼ ὄντʼ εὖ πράξομεν.

Ξοῦθος δὸς χερὸς φίλημά μοι σῆς σώματός τʼ ἀμφιπτυχάς.

Ἴων εὖ φρονεῖς μέν; ἤ σʼ ἔμηνε θεοῦ τις, ὦ ξένε, βλάβη; 520

Ξοῦθος σωφρονῶ· τὰ φίλταθʼ εὑρὼν οὐ φυγεῖν ἐφίεμαι.

Ἴων παῦε, μὴ ψαύσας τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ στέμματα ῥήξῃς χερί.

Ξοῦθος ἅψομαι· κοὐ ῥυσιάζω, τἀμὰ δʼ εὑρίσκω φίλα.

Ἴων οὐκ ἀπαλλάξῃ, πρὶν εἴσω τόξα πλευμόνων λαβεῖν;

Ξοῦθος ὡς τί δὴ φεύγεις με; σαυτοῦ γνωρίσας τὰ φίλτατα — 525

Ἴων οὐ φιλῶ φρενοῦν ἀμούσους καὶ μεμηνότας ξένους.

Ξοῦθος κτεῖνε καὶ πίμπρη· πατρὸς γάρ, ἢν κτάνῃς, ἔσῃ φονεύς.

Ἴων ποῦ δέ μοι πατὴρ σύ; ταῦτʼ οὖν οὐ γέλως κλύειν ἐμοῦ;

Ξοῦθος οὔ· τρέχων ὁ μῦθος ἄν σοι τἀμὰ σημήνειεν ἄν.

Ἴων καὶ τί μοι λέξεις; 530

Ξοῦθος πατὴρ σός εἰμι καὶ σὺ παῖς ἐμός.

Ἴων τίς λέγει τάδε;

Ξοῦθος ὅς σʼ ἔθρεψεν ὄντα Λοξίας ἐμόν.

Ἴων μαρτυρεῖς σαυτῷ.

Ξοῦθος τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ γʼ ἐκμαθὼν χρηστήρια.

Ἴων ἐσφάλης αἴνιγμʼ ἀκούσας.

Ξοῦθος οὐκ ἄρʼ ὄρθʼ ἀκούομεν.

Ἴων ὁ δὲ λόγος τίς ἐστι Φοίβου;

Ξοῦθος τὸν συναντήσαντά μοι —

Ἴων τίνα συνάντησιν; 535

Ξοῦθος δόμων τῶνδʼ ἐξιόντι τοῦ θεοῦ

Ἴων συμφορᾶς τίνος κυρῆσαι;

Ξοῦθος παῖδʼ ἐμὸν πεφυκέναι.

Ἴων σὸν γεγῶτʼ, ἢ δῶρον ἄλλως;

Ξοῦθος δῶρον, ὄντα δʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ.

Ἴων πρῶτα δῆτʼ ἐμοὶ ξυνάπτεις πόδα σόν;

Ξοῦθος οὐκ ἄλλῳ, τέκνον.

Ἴων ἡ τύχη πόθεν ποθʼ ἥκει;

Ξοῦθος δύο μίαν θαυμάζομεν.

Ἴων ἔα. τίνος δέ σοι πέφυκα μητρός; 540

Ξοῦθος οὐκ ἔχω φράσαι.

Ἴων οὐδὲ Φοῖβος εἶπε;

Ξοῦθος τερφθεὶς τοῦτο, κεῖνʼ οὐκ ἠρόμην.

Ἴων γῆς ἄρʼ ἐκπέφυκα μητρός.

Ξοῦθος οὐ πέδον τίκτει τέκνα.

Ἴων πῶς ἂν οὖν εἴην σός;

Ξοῦθος οὐκ οἶδʼ, ἀναφέρω δʼ ἐς τὸν θεόν.

Current edition Perseus

Ion Attendant maids, that watch and wait your mistress here at the steps of the temple fragrant with incense, say, hath Xuthus already left the holy tripod and the sanctuary, or doth he still abide within to ask yet further of his childlessness? 510

Chorus He is still in the temple, sir, nor hath he passed this threshold yet. But hark! I hear a footstep at the outlet of the door, and lo! thou mayst see my master this moment coming out. 515

Xuthus All hail! my son; that word suits well as my first greeting to thee.

Ion ’Tis well with me; do but restrain thyself, and then both of us will be happy.

Xuthus Give me thy hand to grasp, thy body to embrace.

Ion Art thou in thy senses, sir, or hath some spiteful god reft thee of them? 520

Xuthus I am in my senses, for I have found what I hold most dear, and am eager to show my love.

Ion Cease! touch me not, nor tear these garlands of the god!

Xuthus I will embrace thee, for I am not seizing what is not my own, but only finding my own that I love full well.

Ion Hands off! or thou shalt feel an arrow pierce thy ribs.

Xuthus Why dost thou shun me, now that thou findest in me thy nearest and dearest? 525

Ion I am not fond of schooling boors and crazy strangers.

Xuthus Kill me, burn me, if thou wilt; for, if thou dost, thou wilt be thy father’s murderer.

Ion Thou my father, indeed i Oh! is not news like this enough to make me laugh?

Xuthus Not so; my tale, as it proceeds, will prove to thee what I assert.

Ion Pray, what hast thou to tell me? 530

Xuthus That I am thy own father, and thou my very child.

Ion Who says so?

Xuthus Loxias, who gave thee nurture, though thou wert my son.

Ion Thou art thy own witness.

Xuthus Nay, I have learnt the answer of the god.

Ion Thou art mistaken in the dark riddle thou hast heard.

Xuthus It seems then I do not hear aright.

Ion What said Phoebus?

Xuthus That the man who met me—

Ion When and where? 535

Xuthus As I came forth from the god’s temple—

Ion Well! what should happen to him?

Xuthus Should be my own true son.

Ion Thy own true son, or a gift from others?

Xuthus A gift, but mine for all that.

Ion Am I the first that thou didst meet?

Xuthus I have met no other, my son.

Ion Whence came this piece of luck?

Xuthus To both of us alike it causes surprise.

Χορός

ἐν δόμοις ἔστʼ, ὦ ξένʼ· οὔπω δῶμʼ ὑπερβαίνει τόδε.

ὡς δʼ ἐπʼ ἐξόδοισιν ὄντος, τῶνδʼ ἀκούομεν πυλῶν
515

δοῦπον, ἐξιόντα τʼ ἤδη δεσπότην ὁρᾶν πάρα.

Ξοῦθος

ὦ τέκνον, χαῖρʼ· ἡ γὰρ ἀρχὴ τοῦ λόγου πρέπουσά μοι.

Ἴων

χαίρομεν· σὺ δʼ εὖ φρόνει γε, καὶ δύʼ ὄντʼ εὖ πράξομεν.

Ξοῦθος

δὸς χερὸς φίλημά μοι σῆς σώματός τʼ ἀμφιπτυχάς.

Ἴων

εὖ φρονεῖς μέν; ἤ σʼ ἔμηνε θεοῦ τις, ὦ ξένε, βλάβη;
520

Ξοῦθος

σωφρονῶ· τὰ φίλταθʼ εὑρὼν οὐ φυγεῖν ἐφίεμαι.

Ἴων

παῦε, μὴ ψαύσας τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ στέμματα ῥήξῃς χερί.

Ξοῦθος

ἅψομαι· κοὐ ῥυσιάζω, τἀμὰ δʼ εὑρίσκω φίλα.

Ἴων

οὐκ ἀπαλλάξῃ, πρὶν εἴσω τόξα πλευμόνων λαβεῖν;

Ξοῦθος

ὡς τί δὴ φεύγεις με; σαυτοῦ γνωρίσας τὰ φίλτατα —
525

Ἴων

οὐ φιλῶ φρενοῦν ἀμούσους καὶ μεμηνότας ξένους.

Ξοῦθος

κτεῖνε καὶ πίμπρη· πατρὸς γάρ, ἢν κτάνῃς, ἔσῃ φονεύς.

Ἴων

ποῦ δέ μοι πατὴρ σύ; ταῦτʼ οὖν οὐ γέλως κλύειν ἐμοῦ;

Ξοῦθος

οὔ· τρέχων ὁ μῦθος ἄν σοι τἀμὰ σημήνειεν ἄν.

Ἴων

καὶ τί μοι λέξεις;
530

Ξοῦθος

πατὴρ σός εἰμι καὶ σὺ παῖς ἐμός.

Ἴων

τίς λέγει τάδε;

Ξοῦθος

ὅς σʼ ἔθρεψεν ὄντα Λοξίας ἐμόν.

Ἴων

μαρτυρεῖς σαυτῷ.

Ξοῦθος

τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ γʼ ἐκμαθὼν χρηστήρια.

Ἴων

ἐσφάλης αἴνιγμʼ ἀκούσας.

Ξοῦθος

οὐκ ἄρʼ ὄρθʼ ἀκούομεν.

Ἴων

ὁ δὲ λόγος τίς ἐστι Φοίβου;

Ξοῦθος

τὸν συναντήσαντά μοι —

Ἴων

τίνα συνάντησιν;
535

Ξοῦθος

δόμων τῶνδʼ ἐξιόντι τοῦ θεοῦ

Ἴων

συμφορᾶς τίνος κυρῆσαι;

Ξοῦθος

παῖδʼ ἐμὸν πεφυκέναι.

Ἴων

σὸν γεγῶτʼ, ἢ δῶρον ἄλλως;

Ξοῦθος

δῶρον, ὄντα δʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ.

Ἴων

πρῶτα δῆτʼ ἐμοὶ ξυνάπτεις πόδα σόν;

Ξοῦθος

οὐκ ἄλλῳ, τέκνον.

Ἴων

ἡ τύχη πόθεν ποθʼ ἥκει;

Ξοῦθος

δύο μίαν θαυμάζομεν.

Ἴων

ἔα. τίνος δέ σοι πέφυκα μητρός;
540

Ξοῦθος

οὐκ ἔχω φράσαι.

Ἴων

οὐδὲ Φοῖβος εἶπε;

Ξοῦθος

τερφθεὶς τοῦτο, κεῖνʼ οὐκ ἠρόμην.

Ἴων

γῆς ἄρʼ ἐκπέφυκα μητρός.

Ξοῦθος

οὐ πέδον τίκτει τέκνα.

Ἴων

πῶς ἂν οὖν εἴην σός;

Ξοῦθος

οὐκ οἶδʼ, ἀναφέρω δʼ ἐς τὸν θεόν.

Ion

Attendant maids, that watch and wait your mistress here at the steps of the temple fragrant with incense, say, hath Xuthus already left the holy tripod and the sanctuary, or doth he still abide within to ask yet further of his childlessness?
510

Chorus

He is still in the temple, sir, nor hath he passed this threshold yet.

But hark! I hear a footstep at the outlet of the door, and lo! thou mayst see my master this moment coming out.
515

Xuthus

All hail! my son; that word suits well as my first greeting to thee.

Ion

’Tis well with me; do but restrain thyself, and then both of us will be happy.

Xuthus

Give me thy hand to grasp, thy body to embrace.

Ion

Art thou in thy senses, sir, or hath some spiteful god reft thee of them?
520

Xuthus

I am in my senses, for I have found what I hold most dear, and am eager to show my love.

Ion

Cease! touch me not, nor tear these garlands of the god!

Xuthus

I will embrace thee, for I am not seizing what is not my own, but only finding my own that I love full well.

Ion

Hands off! or thou shalt feel an arrow pierce thy ribs.

Xuthus

Why dost thou shun me, now that thou findest in me thy nearest and dearest?
525

Ion

I am not fond of schooling boors and crazy strangers.

Xuthus

Kill me, burn me, if thou wilt; for, if thou dost, thou wilt be thy father’s murderer.

Ion

Thou my father, indeed i Oh! is not news like this enough to make me laugh?

Xuthus

Not so; my tale, as it proceeds, will prove to thee what I assert.

Ion

Pray, what hast thou to tell me?
530

Xuthus

That I am thy own father, and thou my very child.

Ion

Who says so?

Xuthus

Loxias, who gave thee nurture, though thou wert my son.

Ion

Thou art thy own witness.

Xuthus

Nay, I have learnt the answer of the god.

Ion

Thou art mistaken in the dark riddle thou hast heard.

Xuthus

It seems then I do not hear aright.

Ion

What said Phoebus?

Xuthus

That the man who met me—

Ion

When and where?
535

Xuthus

As I came forth from the god’s temple—

Ion

Well! what should happen to him?

Xuthus

Should be my own true son.

Ion

Thy own true son, or a gift from others?

Xuthus

A gift, but mine for all that.

Ion

Am I the first that thou didst meet?

Xuthus

I have met no other, my son.

Ion

Whence came this piece of luck?

Xuthus

To both of us alike it causes surprise.

Ion

Ah I but who was my mother?
540

Xuthus

I cannot tell.

Ion

Did not Phoebus tell thee that?